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Friday 13 October 2006

The World Today is a comprehensive current affairs program which backgrounds, analyses, interprets and encourages debate on events and issues of interest and importance to all Australians. Below is the program summary with links to transcripts and audio (if available).

Continued drought takes toll on farmers

The Prime Minister John Howard has urged Australians to keep a sense of perspective about the current drought, saying it's important to remember most parts of the country are still enjoying good economic times. My Howard has avoided calling this a "rural recession" like the Treasurer did yesterday, but he does acknowledge the toll the big dry has taken on farmers and its potential to push up food prices in the cities. The gloomy weather forecast has also coincided with the nation's first audit of water resources, which has found the states and territories are failing to protect them.

NSW grain growers risk losing 2006 crop

While farmers across the country are bracing for a difficult summer, grain growers have been particularly hard hit. Some forecasts say this year's yield will be down fifty per cent and some farmers have abandoned their winter crops altogether. Growers in New South Wales have had five consecutive years of drought and some say if they don't get rain in the next week they'll have to abandon this year's harvest and run livestock over the crop.

Greens say Govt hasn't done enough to ease drought

The Greens leader, Bob Brown, believes the Federal Government's policies have worsened the danger from drought and bushfires. He says the Prime Minister could have taken a world lead against climate change in the last decade, but instead has encouraged the burning of coal, and starved renewable energy science of funding.

Fire patterns change as Australian summers get hotter

Usually fires in Australia follow a predictable pattern. They first appear in the northern states early in the season and then they migrate south as the summer wears on. This season though, it's been different. The NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Phil Koperberg spoke to Chris Uhlmann and began by listing Australia's most devastating fires.

Bush, Howard hope for strong sanctions against North Korea

Prime Minister John Howard says it is possible that Australian troops might be involved in policing sanctions against North Korea. The United Nations Security Council will vote tomorrow on what action it will take against Pyongyang, over North Korea's decision to conduct its first nuclear test earlier this week.

Red Cross gains access to high profile Guantanamo inmates

For the first time the Red Cross has had access to 14 high profile terrorism suspects who were transferred from secret CIA prisons to Guantanamo Bay last month. The group includes the suspected mastermind of the September the 11th attacks Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Meanwhile as Australian David Hicks nears his fifth anniversary in US custody, Britain's Foreign Secretary says the detention of terrorism suspects at Guantanamo is both "unacceptable" and "ineffective".

Lula da Silva tipped to win Brazilian Presidential race

In Brazil, the polls are showing President Lula da Silva will easily win a runoff election this month despite a bruising public debate with his main rival, and charges of corruption and dirty tricks. The battle lines were drawn this week as the President faced the former governor of Sao Paulo, Geraldo Alckmin, on National Television. Mr Lula has huge support from Brazil's poor, and he appears to have been unscathed by a scandal that forced the head of his Workers' Party, to resign last week.

Transport ministers consider road train proposal

Motoring groups are concerned that plans to allow road trains onto the nation's highways will put more pressure on a road network that's already suffering. Australia's transport ministers are today considering a proposal to allow the use of Triple B trucks - 30 metre long giants with a prime mover and three trailers and the ability to haul twice as much freight as those now allowed onto urban streets and highways.

Channel 9 broadcast decision spoils free to air campaign

United they stand, divided they fall. The decision by Channel 9 to delay the broadcast of an international rugby league match has seriously undermined a campaign by the free to air networks over live sports coverage. For the past fortnight, the commercial free to air channels have been running ads defending their rights to major sporting events in the face of pressure from pay-TV.

Parasite could devastate mud crab population

Mud crab is one of the most sought-after delicacies at Australian restaurants, but its spot on the menu could be in jeopardy. A university student in far north Queensland has uncovered a parasite that some say could devastate the mud crab industry. The discovery has already prompted concern about bio-security and calls for restrictions on imported seafood.

Melbourne clothing factory celebrates its five millionth suit

Clothes maketh the man, or so they say, and it seems Federal Treasurer Peter Costello believes it. Mr Costello visited a Melbourne clothing factory this morning to help celebrate the production of its five millionth suit. And the fact the company has dressed every prime minister since Menzies, bar one, wasn't lost on Mr Costello.

All-Indigenous team joins NT Aussie Rules league

The football season may have ended for most of Australia, but in Darwin this weekend the local competition is just beginning. And it's an historic year for the NTFL, indeed for Aussie Rules. For the first time, an all-Indigenous team is joining the big league, with the Tiwi Islands fulfilling a 30-year dream to move to the mainland.